The US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced today that privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,139,000. This is 0.4 percent (±1.6 percent) below the revised July rate of 1,144,000 and 2.3 percent (±1.5 percent) below the August 2015 estimate of 1,166,000.
Single-family authorizations in August were at a rate of 737,000; this is 3.7 percent (±3.0 percent) above the revised July figure of 711,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 370,000 in August.
Privately-owned housing starts in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,142,000. This is 5.8 percent (±9.7 percent) below the revised July estimate of 1,212,000, but 0.9 percent (±12.5 percent) above the August 2015 rate of 1,132,000.
Single-family housing starts in August were at a rate of 722,000; this is 6.0 percent (±8.2 percent) below the revised July figure of 768,000. The August rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 403,000.
Privately-owned housing completions in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,043,000. This is 3.4 percent (±10.9 percent) below the revised July estimate of 1,080,000, but 8.3 percent (±11.8 percent) above the August 2015 rate of 963,000.
Single-family housing completions in August were at a rate of 752,000; this is 0.3 percent (±10.2 percent) below the revised July rate of 754,000. The August rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 283,000.